Heikki's 'big chance' in 2014?

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN: He seems likely to get a hot seat soon with Caterham. Image: AFP

Caterham supremo Tony Fernandes has admitted that Heikki Kovalainen is in the running to return to a race seat in 2014. Will this be his big chance?

SINGAPORE, Malaysia - Caterham supremo Tony Fernandes has admitted that Heikki Kovalainen is in the running to return to a race seat in 2014.

The Finn was ousted in favour of two 'pay drivers' for 2013 when Caterham decided to focus its resources on preparing for the huge rules challenge of 2014.

"We were trying to save for 2014," Malaysian Fernandes, on a now rare trip to the paddock, said in Singapore. "This is the state of F1 - unfortunately sometimes the budget plays a large part in your decision-making."

'NOSAYING MORE'

Realising it had taken a step backwards relative to the competition, however, Caterham drafted the highly rated Kovalainen, 31, back into the reserve role and gave him four GP practice outings.

Asked what chance he had returning to a race seat in 2014, Fernandes told Turun Sanomat newspaper: "(A) big chance. I don't want to say more than that. Heikki is still with us, he is a big part of this family."

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